2011 NFL Predictions: 10 Coaches Who Will Get Canned By Year's End

As we seem to inch closer towards a possible lockout resolution, it is time we look ahead to the end of this tumultuous offseason and sure-to-be tumultuous regular season.

Every year we see teams drop like flies out of the playoff race and other teams highly disappoint as they come up just short of the postseason. While just missing out on the playoffs is acceptable for some rebuilding franchises, others expect to make the postseason.

More often than not, the No. 1 target of a failing or disappointing team is the head coach.

The head coach receives the praise in victory and it is only fitting they take the brunt of the blame in a loss. We see a coaching carousel after every regular season and I believe we could possibly see an even bigger turn around after the 2011 season with the lockout behind the league.

Some of the head coaches on the list will surely surprise, while others should have been let go long before. Here are 10 coaches who will get canned by year’s end.

10. Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis Colts

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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 26: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts looks on with head coach Jim Caldwell against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 26, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed J

Indianapolis management is in a tough position with Caldwell considering he took the team to the Super Bowl in 2009-2010. Yet when the Colts fail to make the postseason in what feels like forever, management realizes it was more the team than Caldwell that took the Colts to the big dance two years ago.

This is a team that needs a bit of an overhaul, mainly on defense. The failure to make the postseason as the team begins to decline quickly seals Jim’s fate. We all know Peyton Manning is a mastermind on the field, but he needs more help from the sidelines.

Indianapolis will look to bring in someone with more experience to rally the troops for the following season. With superstars Manning, Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis rapidly aging, the Colts need to bring in a more prominent figure at head coach to make one more Super Bowl run with this squad.

9. Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears

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LAKE FOREST, IL - APRIL 26: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears speaks to media during the 2010 Brian Piccolo Award ceremony at Halas Hall on April 26, 2011 in Lake Forest, Illinois. TPlayers participated in the ceremony one day after a federal ju

Heading into last season, Lovie Smith was still riding his Super Bowl wave, but he prevented that wave from crashing down as he made it back to the NFC Championship. Despite a remarkable defensive core, I do not see this team making it back to the Championship game, let alone the playoffs. They suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Packers, which was a direct result of Jay Cutler’s injury.

It is easy to envision this locker room being divided between Lovie and Cutler by midseason as Cutler still won’t be adequately protected in Mike Martz’ offense. As Cutler continues to get beat up behind the line of scrimmage, the locker room will become divided.

Management has to make a decision between their franchise quarterback and the head coach that failed to get them back to the Super Bowl, in which case it is easier to replace a head coach than a young, strong-armed franchise QB.

8. Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 25: Head coach Ken Whisenhunt of the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 25, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Cowboys 27-26. (Phot

This is difficult to write as Ken Whisenhunt is one of the most successful head coaches in Arizona Cardinals history. Another head coach who is living off a Super Bowl appearance, Whisenhunt has seen superstar after superstar bolt from Arizona in the past couple of years. As the Cardinals hold another top-10 selection after another disappointing season, the Cardinals staff makes a change at the top to light a fire under the team.

Whisenhunt has not done a great job via the draft or free agency and is losing talent at a rapid pace.

Without a true franchise quarterback in place, regardless if they trade for the overrated Kevin Kolb, the organization can essentially start from scratch with a new head coach in place. Whisenhunt failed to convince Kurt Warner to return, which put him in a mess of a quarterback situation. His regime traded away superstar Anquan Boldin and many believe the Cardinals could potentially lose Larry Fitzgerald at some point.

Despite resurrecting the Cardinals’ franchise, Whisenhunt will be the fall guy as the team continues to tumble down the mountain.

7. Chan Gailey, Buffalo Bills

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 05: Head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Chan Gailey looks on from the sideline against the Minnesota Vikings at the Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 5, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo b

Gailey did a fantastic job last year, but this is a struggling franchise that is looking for a bigger spark. As the Bills fail to make the playoffs again for over a decade, general manager Buddy Nix realizes Gailey is better suited to be the team’s offensive coordinator.

Nix can essentially have the best of both worlds as he brings in a more defensive-minded head coach to improve the team, while Gailey continues to improve a young offense.

For the Bills, who are desperately trying to make themselves relevant again, they need to maximize their positions. While the Bills were competitive in 2010 under Gailey, he could do more damage working closely with the quarterback and offense. This is a team on the rise with a solid core group of talent, but Nix needs to reposition his coaching staff to accelerate winning efforts.

6. Hue Jackson, Oakland Raiders

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ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 18: New Oakland Raiders coach Hue Jackson (L) looks on as Raiders owner Al Davis speaks during a press conference on January 18, 2011 in Alameda, California. Hue Jackson was introduced as the new coach of the Oakland Raiders, replac

One and done? You can never rule it out with Al Davis captaining the Raiders' ship. Oakland has been a black hole for recent coaches and I expect a downturn in production for this Raiders team.

They have made strides overall, but Davis will prove to be too impatient and let go of Jackson as the team lands a top-10 selection.

Although Jacoby Ford looks like he could be the No.1 receiver, this is not a quality aerial attack. He needs more help from his receiving teammates, and Jason Campbell is not the future, which is why they will draft either Stanford’s Andrew Luck, USC’s Matt Barkley or Oklahoma’s Landry Jones.

Darren McFadden and the rushing attack looks great, but McFadden is not a safe bet to play all 16 games. The bigger concern for this team will be the defense, which many project to be without superstar cornerback and elite defender Nnamdi Asomugha. He will bolt for greener pastures once free agency resume. Without him, this defense will not be nearly as stout as it has shown in recent years.

Davis will use Jackson as the fall guy, even though everyone knows its Davis who should relinquish his death grip over the Raiders’ rebuilding ship.

5. Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 12: Head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Tony Sparano on the sideline against the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 12, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Sparano was re-signed in the offseason, but as I expect the Dolphins to continue their decline, he will be on the chopping block once again.

The organization will bring in a new head coach to jump start the team with a quarterback to call their own, most likely landing one of the terrific three of 2012—Stanford’s Andrew Luck, Oklahoma’s Landry Jones or USC’s Matt Barkley.

While this team has pieces to build around, Chad Henne has become a liability and it is doubtful that he will turn it around. He and Sparano are essentially linked and will both be gone at season’s end to allow a new coach a fresh start.

Sparano did a fine job initially as a head coach but his team has been on a steady decline in the tough AFC East. With Bill Parcells’ role within the organization is decreasing, so will the support for Sparano.

4. Tom Coughlin, New York Giants

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19: Tom Coughlin, Head Coach of the New York Giants looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles during their game on December 19, 2010 at The New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Im

Another up-and-down season seals Tom Coughlin’s fate as the Giants fail to make the postseason for the second consecutive season. Coughlin is another head coach on this list riding the wave of a Super Bowl victory, but his Giants have not been as focused or motivated on the field since Plaxico shot himself in the leg.

Several Giants have spoken out against Coughlin and his military-esque ways in the past and they finally get their wish next offseason. Coughlin won’t have a difficult time finding another job and the Giants will look for an even bigger name on the open market to spark the team and city. The Giants are looking to compete with the Jets’ charismatic head coach Rex Ryan and will do what it takes to take back their New York supremacy.

3. Norv Turner, San Diego Chargers

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CINCINNATI - DECEMBER 26: Norv Turner the Head Coach of the San Diego Chargers walks off of the field following the Chargers 34-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals during the NFL game at Paul Brown Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo

Norv Turner was never the right man for the Chargers, as this is a squad that needs to be more disciplined. The Chargers often lose focus and that is a direct result of the head coach.

The AFC West is rapidly improving and San Diego could very well miss out on the playoffs for the second straight season. Even if the Chargers happen to make the postseason, nobody expects them to get far anymore as they’ve repeatedly crumbled down the stretch when it matters most.

In order for them to get back to a Championship game and ultimately the Super Bowl, Turner must be replaced to get the team back on track. Although a highly talented team, they have yet to put it all together and won’t under Norv’s watchful eye because he fails to keep them motivated enough to win.

2. Jack del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars

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HOUSTON - JANUARY 02: Head coach Jack Del Rio of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks on from the sidelines during first half action against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

As much as I like Jack del Rio, his time is coming to an end in Jacksonville. The Jaguars have basically been a middle of the pack team, failing to truly break away in the Indianapolis Colts-dominated AFC South division.

They made great strides last year, but this team is heading in a new direction following the draft. They are setting up more for the future as they drafted their next franchise quarterback in Blaine Gabbert, but failed to fill other glaring holes on the squad.

This defense is crumbling with needs in the secondary and linebacker. The offense will decline without a true No. 1 receiver to take the pressure off Maurice Jones-Drew, who rarely stays healthy for an entire season as is.

I expect the team to stumble mightily and land a top-five selection in the 2012 draft.

1. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals

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BALTIMORE, MD - JANUARY 2: Head coach Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals coaches against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Bengals 13-6. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

How Marvin Lewis is still the head coach of the Bengals is beyond me. Does it even seem like his players want to play for him? With the way he’s handled the Chad Ochocinco drama, would anybody really want to at this point? He’s had chance after chance to truly turn the organization around, but the team continues to fail despite being loaded with talent.

This team is heading in a new direction with Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. It’s time Cincinnati brought in somebody new to rejuvenate the team and take the Bengals to the top. Any coach would be thrilled to come to this young and highly talented team to turn the ship around.

The defense is littered with fantastic talent, highlighted by one of the best cornerback duos in the league in Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph. A few pieces here and there through the draft and free agency and the Bengals could once again sweep the North.